Another fairly full day with eight games on is set to begin with...
The Columbus Blue Jackets hosting the Vancouver Canucks. Spencer Martin and Elvis Merzlikins are the goalies. Vancouver started in the first period with a Bo Horvat shorthanded goal, his second of the season, set up by Elias Pettersson and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The Canucks added on with a Pettersson goal, his third of the year, coming off of Vasily Podkolzin and Nils Hoglander. Columbus got on the board with a Justin Danforth goal, via Vladislav Gavrikov and Yegor Chinakhov. The Blue Jackets tied it in the third period with a Zach Werenski goal, fueled by Boone Jenner and Johnny Gaudreau. Vancouver reclaimed the lead with a Horvat goal, his second of the game and third of the season, assisted by Brock Boeser and Tucker Poolman. Columbus tied it again with a Gaudreau goal, his second of the year, going in unassisted. The Blue Jackets won 4-3 in overtime with a Gavrikov goal, made possible by Chinakhov and Jakub Voracek. The three stars went to Gavrikov, Gaudreau, and Horvat, while Pettersson and Chinakhov get the honorable mentions.
Along to New Jersey, as the Devils welcome the Anaheim Ducks. Anthony Stolarz and Mackenzie Blackwood man the nets. Anaheim led off in the first period with a Jakob Silfverberg goal, coming off of Isac Lundestrom. The Ducks added on with another Silfverberg goal, passed from Mason McTavish and Cam Fowler. New Jersey got on the board in the second period with an Ondrej Palat goal, fueled by Ryan Graves and Jack Hughes. The Devils tied it on a Nico Hischier goal, helped along by Jesper Bratt and Jonas Siegenthaler. New Jersey took the lead with a Dougie Hamilton goal, his second of the season, assisted by Bratt and Hischier. The Devils extended the lead as Dawson Mercer scored, thanks to Yegor Sharangovich and Hughes. This stood for a 4-2 win, with the three stars going to Silfverberg, Hischier, and Hughes, while Bratt gets an honorable mention.
Up in Ottawa, the Senators host the Boston Bruins. Jeremy Swayman and Anton Forsberg protect the nets. Ottawa opened in the first period with a Claude Giroux goal, his second of the season, assisted by Alex DeBrincat and Josh Norris. The Senators added on with a Brady Tkachuk goal, his second of the year, via Tim Stutzle and Artem Zub. Ottawa extended the lead as Drake Batherson scored, thanks to Tkachuk and Stutzle. Boston got on the board with a Patrice Bergeron goal, his third of the season, courtesy of David Pastrnak and Jake DeBrusk. The Bruins got closer in the second period with a David Krejci power play goal, his second of the year, powered by Bergeron and Pastrnak. Boston tied it as A.J. Greer scored his third of the season, with the help of Charlie Coyle. The Senators regained the lead with a Shane Pinto goal, his second of the year, with helpers from Mathieu Joseph and Tyler Motte. Ottawa padded the lead on a Stutzle goal, made possible by Batherson and Tkachuk. The Senators continued with a Mark Kastelic goal, fueled by Austin Watson. The Bruins fired back with a Nick Foligno goal, his second of the season, guided in by Jakub Lauko. Boston got closer on a Pastrnak goal, his third of the year, passed from DeBrusk and Bergeron. Linus Ullmark replaced Swayman in goal. Ottawa struck again in the third period with a Zub goal, with assists provided by Batherson and Erik Brannstrom. This stood for a 7-5 win, with the three stars belonging to Tkachuk, Stutzle, and Batherson, while Bergeron, Pastrnak, Zub, and DeBrusk receive the honorable mentions.
Down in Tampa Bay, the Lightning bring in the Philadelphia Flyers. Carter Hart and Andrei Vasilevskiy are the masked men. Tampa Bay got going in the second period with a Steven Stamkos power play goal, his fifth of the season, powered by Vladislav Namestnikov and Nikita Kucherov. The Lightning added on with another Stamkos goal, his second of the game and sixth of the year, guided in by Kucherov and Victor Hedman on the power play. Philadelphia got on the board with a Scott Laughton goal, his second of the season, helped along by Egor Zamula and Morgan Frost. The Flyers tied it in the third period with a James van Riemsdyk power play goal, assisted by Kevin Hayes and Tony DeAngelo. Philadelphia pulled ahead on a Noah Cates goal, going in unassisted. The Flyers held on for a 3-2 win, with the three stars being Stamkos, Kucherov, and Cates.
Back north, the New York Islanders host the San Jose Sharks. James Reimer and Semyon Varlamov are the veterans in goal. San Jose began in the first period with a Nico Sturm goal, his second of the season, helped along by Evgeny Svechnikov and Jaycob Megna. New York tied it on an Anders Lee goal in the second period, via Adam Pelech and Brock Nelson. The Islanders took the lead with a Zach Parise goal, coming off of Noah Dobson and Jean-Gabriel Pageau. The Sharks retied it on an Svechnikov goal, his second of the year, passed from Matt Benning. New York retook the lead with an Oliver Wahlstrom goal, his second of the season, assisted by Nelson. The Islanders added on with another Wahlstrom goal in the third period, his second of the game and third of the year, guided in by Dobson. New York finished it at 5-2 with a Cal Clutterbuck empty net goal, set up by Matt Martin and Pelech. The three stars went to Wahlstrom, Svechnikov, and Nelson, while Dobson and Pelech get the honorable mentions.
Out west, the Calgary Flames welcome the Vegas Golden Knights. Logan Thompson and Jacob Markstrom tend the twines. Vegas struck first in the first period with a William Carrier goal, via Zach Whitecloud and Nicolas Roy. The Golden Knights added on with a Brett Howden goal, assisted by Brayden McNabb and Mark Stone. Calgary got on the board in the second period with an Elias Lindholm power play goal, his second of the season, powered by Jonathan Huberdeau and Nazem Kadri. The Flames tied it on a Tyler Toffoli power play goal, his second of the year, with assists provided by Rasmus Andersson and Huberdeau. Calgary pulled ahead in the third period with a Mikael Backlund goal, his second of the season, coming off of Blake Coleman and MacKenzie Weegar. This stood for a 3-2 win, with the three stars going to Huberdeau, Backlund, and Toffoli.
Also in Alberta, the Edmonton Oilers bring in the Buffalo Sabres. Eric Comrie and Stuart Skinner are the backups in goal. Buffalo kicked off the scoring in the first period with a Rasmus Dahlin power play goal, his third of the season, powered by Casey Mittelstadt. Edmonton tied it on a Darnell Nurse goal, his second of the year, via Leon Draisaitl and Cody Ceci. The Sabres pulled ahead with a Tage Thompson goal in the second period, assisted by Jeff Skinner. Buffalo added on with a J.J. Peterka goal, his second of the season, fueled by Vinnie Hinostroza. The Oilers got one back in third period with a Ryan Nugent-Hopkins goal, passed from Connor McDavid. The Sabres iced it at 4-2 with an Alex Tuch empty net goal, his second of the year, set up by Dylan Cozens and Thompson. The three stars were Peterka, Thompson, and Dahlin.
Finally, the Nashville Predators host the Los Angeles Kings. Cal Petersen and Juuse Saros are between the pipes. Nashville drew first blood in the first period with a Cody Glass goal, assisted by Mikael Granlund and Ryan McDonagh. Los Angeles tied it on a Gabriel Vilardi power play goal, his fourth of the season, powered by Arthur Kaliyev and Sean Durzi. The Predators retook the lead with a Filip Forsberg goal, his second of the year, via Granlund and Matt Duchene. Nashville added on with a Tanner Jeannot goal, made possible by Colton Sissons. The Kings got one back with a Matt Roy goal in the third period, his second of the season, courtesy of Brendan Lemieux. Los Angeles tied it on another Roy goal, his second of the game and third of the year, with helpers from Vilardi and Quinton Byfield. The Kings won 4-3 in the shootout with a lone tally by Vilardi. The three stars were Roy, Vilardi, and Granlund.
Follow me on Twitter @OutsiderSports0.